How Greek life is changing at the University of Michigan

ANN ARBOR – Since the beginning of the month, several developments involving University of Michigan fraternities have made headlines.

Firstly the North American Interfraternity Conference announced a ban on strong alcoholic products, that is, those containing more than 15 percent alcohol by volume, in homes and at events. They may, however, be served by a third party, such as a licensed alcohol vendor.

The NIC requires the policy to be implemented by member fraternities by September 1, 2019.

The decision will impact 66 national and international fraternities, spread across 6,186 chapters on 800 campuses. The reason? To combat hazing and alcohol-related deaths.

According to CNNFraternity-related deaths since 2005 rise to 77 in U.S.

Beyond Greek life, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that 1,825 students die each year from unintentional alcohol-related injuries.

Sixteen University of Michigan fraternities are currently members of the NIC and are expected to comply with the new policy.

Meanwhile, six fraternities have disaffiliated with the University of Michigan, citing the city of Ann Arbor’s zoning changes and the decision to postpone fall recruitment until January 2020 under the new program. UM. First Year Experience Plan.

The zoning changes refer to a unanimous decision by the Ann Arbor City Council on July 16 that all fraternities and sororities — new and existing — maintain university affiliation to be specially authorized.

This means that UM’s loss of recognition due to low membership or extreme cases of hazing or sexual assault could see fraternity and sorority houses revert to single-family houses after two years.

The following fraternities are no longer affiliated with UM:

• Alpha Epsilon Pi

• Alpha Sigma Phi

• Delta Chi

• Phi Sigma Kappa

• Psi Upsilon

• Theta Chi

Fraternities are members of the NIC and therefore are always subject to the rules of the organization, as well as the rules of the University of Michigan. This decision will not affect their national sections.

UM Interfraternity Council recently released this statement on disaffiliation:

“While these organizations retain their right to continue operations, they will not have access to institutions, programs, or support structures offered by IFC or the University of Michigan. These structures include, but are not limited to, the Committee Greek Activities Review Board, Social Responsibility Committee, Hazing Response Team, and Hazing Task Force.

These developments follow a difficult year for Greek life at UM.

Last November, IFC has suspended all social activities on campus while investigating more than 80 incidents of sexual assault reported between July 2015 and June 2016. All activities resumed in January 2018.

The same month, the Zeta Beta Tau International Fraternity revoked its Ann Arbor charter amid allegations of hazing and violations of fraternity policies. It was the second time in four years that the fraternity was shut down due to hazing allegations.

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